94 SCOLOPACID^E. 



brown. The plumage of this species in different stages is 

 very varied, we therefore describe it here. The adult male 

 bird has the head and back bright rust-coloured, with black 

 spots and marks on the feathers ; the forehead, chin, and 

 circle round the eyes are whitish ; the space between the beak 

 and eyes dusky ; over this space and the eyes runs a band of 

 bright rust colour ; the cheeks are rufous and white inter- 

 mixed, and streaked with dusky ; the throat, breast, and 

 sides are reddish rust-colour, the latter with white edges, and 

 a dusky marking between the two colours. 



The thighs, belly, and vent are white, with rust-coloured 

 markings, and arrow-shaped black spots and streaks. The 

 edge of the wing is white with dusky spots ; the wing- 

 coverts are cinereous dusky, with black shafts and paler 

 edges to each feather, the tertials are more decided in colour- 

 ing ; the secondaries still darker, with white edges, the quills 

 are dusky ; the lower part of the back is blackish grey, 

 edged with white ; the rump the same but lighter, and 

 white on its sides ; the upper tail-coverts are pure white 

 with dusky square spots ; the tail brownish-ash, with white 

 edges and shafts. 



The winter plumage of the adult is as follows, — the head, 

 back, scapulars, greater and lesser wing-coverts, and tail are 

 ash-grey, and faintly marked by the pale dusky centres of 

 the feathers ; the cheeks, sides of the neck, and breast are 

 the same, but much fainter ; the chin, forehead, region of the 

 eyes, breast, belly, and vent are soiled white ; the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts, white, with dusky markings as in the 

 summer. 



The plumage of the young bird is also remarkably differ- 

 ing ; the top of its head, nape, back, scapulars, wing-coverts, 

 and tertials are yellowish ash-colour, with black spots, and 

 greenish yellow edges, the larger feathers on the back and 



